The Role of the Economic Community of the West African States

This study identifies and analyzes the historical forces and factors responsible for the present situation in Liberia, and the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in resolving the conflict. It is anchored in two fundamental perspectives: (a) the present crisis in Liberia can be traced to the historical conditions at the time of the country's founding and the patterns of leadership that existed in the country; (b) the regional collective...
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This study identifies and analyzes the historical forces and factors responsible for the present situation in Liberia, and the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in resolving the conflict. It is anchored in two fundamental perspectives: (a) the present crisis in Liberia can be traced to the historical conditions at the time of the country's founding and the patterns of leadership that existed in the country; (b) the regional collective security dimension of the conflict in Liberia within which the peacemaking and peacekeeping operations and the overall management of the conflict should be studied and evaluated.

This dissertation argues that the crisis today is the result of an undemocratic process of governance, which polarized Liberians between the self-styled "Americo-Liberians" and the marginalized "natives." This hegemonic domination of life in Liberia was unchallenged until the coup d'etat led by Samuel K. Doe in 1980.

The renewed emphasis on liberalization and reform policies of President William R. Tolbert created the circumstances that led to the 1980 coup d'etat that removed President Tolbert from power. It subjects Tolbert's policies to a critical and theoretical analysis and argues that failure to implement what was originally promised to the majority of Liberians led to the political breakdown of the 1980's. Related to this argument is the point that the collapse of the Liberian state led to a state of lawlessness and the growth of private armies vying to capture the state. This study examined the various historical, political, and economic developments that shaped Liberia and set the stage for the present conflict. The breakdown has also necessitated the intervention of the West African States of ECOWAS under the auspices of the Economic Community Of Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). The study analyzed the key developments in the Liberian conflict especially with special reference to the role ECOWAS\ECOMOG.

The study concludes that Liberia's legitimacy and sovereignty can once again be restored and recognized by the international community, if President Taylor and the various rebel factions (many of whom are now opposition political parties) were to cooperate with ECOMOG's efforts to resolve the genocidal civil conflict. The random killing of Liberians by these factions from December 24, 1989 up to the ECOMOG sponsored elections of July 19, 1997 is like some other African and international civil conflicts, which has been viewed by this study as "The Killing Fields." ECOMOG's patient but determined endeavors to liberate Liberia and its people from the needless crisis must be the highest hope for all Liberians. In addition, Liberians at home and abroad are the actual cornerstones for assisting the ECOMOG's peace process, national rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery. This study predicts that the success of ECOMOG in the Liberian civil conflict will not only create a stable environment for peace and democracy in Liberia, but will also create a model of peacekeeping in Africa. This will have a profound impact on peace and cooperative security in the West African sub-region in particular, and in Africa in general.